The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-30
THE RATIONAL CAPITAL.
President CIeveIand's Forthcoming
Dodge OF His Free Trade Views.
Senators Sherman, Edmunds and
Hoar Opposed to Lamar.
How a Modern War Vessel Could
Shell Portland.

How a Modern War Vessel Could
Shell Portland.
Especial to the Press.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-The statement
that the President is going to follow up his
first tariff message by new one, to be sent
in soon after Congress conyenes, shows into
what state of hedging the Democratic party
has come. The report which is first out this
morning will undoubtedly denote half de-
nial for while, even II 1t is true, after the
shutting fashion of the White House. Even
If Mr.. Cleveland does not send in this mes
sage, his party will do In the future what 1t
has begun most frantically to try and do
now to get enough of pretence at protee-
tion in its manifesto or action to save itself.
The Republicans have with great promptness
and activity taken up the issue and are
forcing 1t on the Democrats. They are max
ing it apparent and more than apparent. not
so much to the employers as to the working
men, that the Democrats are headed straight
toward free trade. his has walked the
country up tremendously. The expressions
of d.sapproval, the warnings that this policy
is hurting them terribly, are coming in Sc
cretly to the leaders from all parts of the
country They see only too plainly they
must dodge, and the signs of the intention to
dodge are unmistakable. 1t crops out in the
programme to be followed upon the adoption
of the Oak View campaign plan. "This,"
said one of the administration organs in this
city sis to be series of battles and re-
treats. If the system of tariff revision
which is needed cannot be secured, we shall
take what we can get"
Now the symptoms are unmistakable that
the response to his message creates great
deal of feeling at the White House. There
is disposition to straddle and straddle
securely. Secretary Fairchild will be against
this, for he, from first to last, has been
determined free trader. There will be pull
ing and hauling on the floor of the House,
as there will be in Cabinet circles, and If
there isn't monkey and parrot time on
tariff revision 1t will not be because the ma
terial is not plenty and ripe.
Honors to the Dead Secretary.
tits worth noting. perhaps as one of the CO.
incidenccs of the week, that for the first
time in many years the President and the
whole Cabinet were out Of the city at one
time. absent at the funeral of Secretary
Manning. They did great honor to Manning.
They seemed to realize to a considerable de-
gree that he was the real Warwick who did
most to place the administration in the
White House For the first time in years,
save at the death of President, the White
House flag was lowered to half mast.
Lamar's Confirmation.
Senator Sherman has come boldly out
against the confirmation of Secretary Lamar
as Supreme Court Judge. This will have
great effect. The Lamar question promises
to be by far the most exciting one to be taken
up at first after the holiday recess. The
Senate judiciary committee have had several
hot debates over this matter. Senators Ed
munds and Hoar are strongly and firmly OPP
posed to confirmation. The battle has been
fought between them and the Southerners;
Senator Evarts has been swinging the
other way. He has been vascilating and
has made weak exhibition. 1t is one OF
the several times in which Mr.. Evarts has
disappointed not only his party but ms
friends since entering the Senate, and his
speeches. when they have been made, have
been often made with personal object In
view.
The strongest objection to the congrmation
of l.. Q. c. Lamar is his open sympathy with
secession. AN ideal secessionist stump
speaker called him III the Massachusetts
campaign last summer, a description that fits
him aptly. But beyond this is the objection
that that during m ing that time Id has dope slittle-or-
nothing to keep himself abreast of the decis-
ions of the courts, and thus knows compare
| lively very. very little OF the late rulings.
| He is not fitted, on this account, to enter the
| highest court iu the country, and be is UNFIT
| ted simply by the fact lthat he has been out
| of the gown and has been too lnd0lent TO
keep himself posted. With Senator Sherman
a e al aA oc
| they are, the poll of the senatorial executive
session will be closely watched.
The Fish Commission.
The fishery question cames to the surface
again, as the time approaches for Congress
to come together. There is to be large
meeting in Philadelphia Jan. Sd, the day be-
| fore the session opens again, meeting
which shall express sympathy with the fish
ermen, and do what it can to stir public sem
timent in their behalf. Such meetings will
unquestionably have great effect, and the
National Fishery Association has been urged
to contrive a plan by which this system OF
agitation may be carried on. chamberlain
and Tupper are expected back next week,
and Of course Mr.. Bayard may be counted
upon to do all he can to help forward reci-
procity treaty, if not on one basis, upon
another.
/ line WOrkm6Q WHO dI6 puitiuB buC Sicdb
marble terrace and steps along the rear OF
the capitol, are progressing but slowly, and
| it is doubtful if they complete their task be-
fore late into the summer When the WORK
is over, it will improve the building greatly,
and the rear, which really seems to the
stranger like the 'front.' as 1t faces up Penn
sylvania Avenue, will look quite as fine as
the real front, when the inauguration cere-
monies take place. VAN.
The DefenceIess Coast
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29,-It would be very
easy for an enemy's feet to lombard the
leading Maine ports as well as those of all
New England. This fact is brought out by
the report of the Notifications board.
They say:
Boston can be shelled from any position in
Broad Sound. A position taken IN five fathoms
of water within FIVE miles Of the State House,
VIII ich would command Lynn, Chelsea, Charles
Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury and South Boston,
Lynn can be shelled from Nahant Bay in two
In Maine, Belfast open harbor; town can be
sheed with ease
BAH can be shelled from any point on the river
Portland can be shelled from seaward from
northeast Of the city to southeast, at distances
varying from three to four miles, in water from
"A At + Portsmouth, N H., forts Constitution, Nc
Cary and Sullivan are in a dilapdated condition,
from shelling the city. AT an anchorage outside
Gerrlsh's Island, distant less than four miles.
position could be taken in five fathoms OF water
and the city shelled with ease.
Providence is protected by its shoals.
The bill which Senator Dolph has intro
duced provides for fortifcation Of the ports
in most urgent need Of it; New York, San
Francisco, Boston, the lake ports, Hampton
Roads, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Wash
ington, Baltimore, Portland, Me-, Rhode Is
laud ports, in Narragansett Bay, Key West,
Charleston, S. c., Mobile, New London, Sa-
vannah, Galveston, Portland, Ore. Pensa-
cola, Fla, Wilmington, n. @, San Diego,
Portsmouth, defences of Cumberland Sound
at Fort Clinch defences of ports of the Ken
nebec River at Fort Popham, New Bedford,
defences of ports on the Penobscot river at
Fort Knox and New Haven.
The estimated expense of fortifying Port
land is $4,000 900 in land defences, $23.60o,OOO
| in armament; $630,00O in submarine mines
and torpedo boats. The total of the Dolph
bill is $125, ,000, 900; $21,000,000 for the first
| fiscal year, $4,000, 900 year for eleven years
| and az a87 h20 for the year ending June 30.